We Have Lots of Birds!

Birds have been arriving all week and we have much more nesting activity at our posting area now. Black Skimmers have been showing up daily.   On Saturday, 5/7, over three hundred were counted!   Skimmers are coupling up, making scrapes and mating!  No eggs yet, but should be soon!

photos by Laura Scullin

Lindsay Addison, our National Audubon biologist, did an official nest check on Sunday, 5/8.  “Nest checks” are what biologists do to monitor productivity within the colony.  You may see some “tongue depressor” markers within the posted area by some nests that identify specific nests. For example., if you see one marked LT 25 that means she has documented that particular Least Tern nest as her 25th on her log sheet.  Each week she will monitor the activity within that particular nest and record it along with all the other nests she has marked. 

Common Tern, nest #5

Here is some specific data as a result of Lindsay’s nest checks….

On Sunday, Lindsay saw three Common Terns nests (scrapes with eggs) in the small dunes in the front of the posting.  On Monday I2 more were located on the high dunes and Monday evening, several Bird Stewards were able to see a Common Tern egg in the nest with the parent standing next to the nest!  It looked like a brown rock!

Least Terns are numerous with well over 232 nesting counted on Saturday morning. We have nests everywhere!!!  We anticipate an official nest census sometime next week.

We have 3 pairs of American Oystercatchers that have nested (eggs) as well as some immature Oystercatchers at the colony.  We are so happy to finally have a third nest!

photo by Laura Scullin

We have also had some great visiting birds come to the South End, including a Black Bellied Plover in breeding plumage, a Wilson’s Plover, as well as a huge flock of Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns.  Up to 150 Common Terns visited the colony and were hanging out at the water’s edge one morning.  A pod of dolphins was even observed in the surf. Absolutely beautiful!

photo by Laura Scullin

MONDAY BIRD WALKS

We lead bird walks for the general public (and stewards!) every Monday morning at 9 AM at Beach Access 43 from now through Mid-August.  We just meet by the Gazebo…. Invite your friends, neighbors and family to join us!

photo of by Laura Scullin

Least Terns on Wrightsville Beach

One of the more successful shore birds that nest at the south end of Wrightsville Beach is the Least Tern. They are the smallest of the American Terns. Their weight averages a mere 1.1 - 1.6 oz.

These birds return to Wrightsville Beach from Central and South America in April and begin their breeding by offering a fish to a potential mate.

Sometimes she says, "Yes!"

Least Tern nests are very shallow and minimally scooped out. Here is a link to a short video I took this afternoon showing a Least Tern clearing an area before creating a scrape.

Least Tern Creating a Scrape for a Nest

A Least Tern laying just below the surface of the sand is probably on a nest. Today there seemed to be nesting Least Terns all over the beach!

This Least Tern is sitting on a nest. One egg can be seen if you look closely. The eggs are speckled and generally blend well with the sandy surface.

Since the incubation period is 20-25 days we expect to have baby chicks by the beginning of June. Mark your calendars!

Here's a preview of coming attractions...

Love Is In the Air (and on the beach)!

Every day seems to bring a new sign of a very successful nesting season at the south end of Wrightsville Beach. Birds have been arriving all week and we have much more activity at the nesting area now. 

Black Skimmers have been arriving daily. One of our Bird Stewards was at the beach April 30 and counted 276 Black Skimmers!   Skimmers are coupling up and we witnessed several mating!

photo by Krystyna Ochola

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Laura Scullin

Common Terns have also arrived.  We have seen four pairs of Common Terns over the weekend in the front small dunes.

photo by Don Ellson

photo by Don Ellson

photo by Don Ellson

Least Terns are numerous with well over 200 seen in the air at one time.  It appears that we have several nests (scrapes with eggs) on the ground that are being cared for by parents. And there is a lot of courting activity as we watch the male least terns offer a fish to potential mates.

photo by Laura Scullin

We have 2 pairs of American Oystercatchers as well as some immature Oystercatchers at the colony.  We have one nest. 

photo by Krystyna Ochola

photo by Laura Scullin

photo by Laura Scullin

This Willet seems to be standing guard over the colony from one of the posting signs.

photo by Krystyna Ochola

Meanwhile I am determined to learn to take photos this summer using my scope and iPhone.  Here is my practice shot taken during this morning's Bird Walk.  It seems to be a steep learning curve for me!

Photo by Kathy Hannah

  

First Bird Walk a SUCCESS!

Our first weekly bird walk was held Monday, April 25. There were 16 eager participants who were excited to learn more about our nesting colony at the south end of Wrightsville Beach. Happily the weather and our birds cooperated!  There was plenty of action and least terns, common terns, black skimmers, oystercatchers, and willets were all present and accounted for.

One of our guests was Bradley Hoffman, a 14 year old boy visiting from New York. Here are some amazing photographs he took of our cast of characters....

American Oystercatchers

 Common Terns

Least Terns 

(Least Tern Decoys)

Willets

Black Skimmers

Hope you can join us for a Monday Bird Walk soon!

Ever wonder what a "bird steward" does?

Audubon video about the Wrightsville Beach Bird Steward program
                                  (Click on link above to view video.)

Black Skimmers

Here are two photos of Black Skimmers taken this morning (4/23) by Mary Ann Walton. Each tells its own story. We seem to have an active group of Black Skimmers in the nesting area and they appear to be busy catching fish in the inlet.  Thanks for the pictures, Mary Ann!